Sunderland drop Stephane Sessegnon after drink-drive arrest DURING their League Cup match

Cat flap: Sessegnon has been axed but Di Canio hints at a way back (Image: Victor Fraile)

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Stephane Sessegnon has been axed by Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio following his drink-drive charge.

Forward Sessegnon has been left out of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace in a crackdown by the Black Cats' hard-line Italian boss.

The Benin international was stopped and arrested by police in Newcastle city centre WHILE his team-mates were battling back from 2-0 down to earn a gutsy Capital One Cup victory over MK Dons.

He will appear before Magistrates in October.

Di Canio refused to comment on the alleged offence, but the disciplinarian feels let down by Sessegnon’s decision not to watch the 4-2 win, for which he had been rested.

The striker was not ordered to attend the game on Tuesday night, but the head coach is adamant he should have been at home rather than being spotted round the corner from arch-rivals Newcastle’s James’ Park stadium.

Sessegnon has struggled for form this term, and been substituted in both Sunderland’s Premier League games so far.

The former Paris Saint-Germain favourite had been set to return against Ian Holloway’s men, but arch-disciplinarian Di Canio has now told the 29-year-old he won’t be travelling to London.

Di Canio said: “I will judge each case on its merits and if a footballer says he is really sorry and you think he means it, then yes, there is a second chance.

“If you arrive late for training and are fined and then become more professional, there is a way back. But if you don’t even think you are doing wrong and say sorry without really meaning it, that’s different.

“I can read my players and I know the ones who are genuinely sorry if they do something wrong. It’s difficult to give second chances to somebody who breaks the rules and thinks that’s normal, because they’ll then do it again.”

Connor Wickham is likely to make his first start of the season up front against the Eagles, after his two-goal substitute appearance on Tuesday night.